Revolutionary United Front (RUF)Tyler Davis, Alexa Iacono, Gray Zelenak, Deshaun Suggs
Revolutionary United Front flag
Green stripe above yellow, in the center was a lion, surrounded with the bands bearing inscriptions: "Revolutionary United Front Party" and "Power and Wealth to the People"
-The Revolutionary United Front (RUF) was a rebel army that fought a failed eleven year war in Sierra Leone, starting in 1991 and ending in 2002. -It later developed into a political party, which existed until 2007.
.
At first, the RUF was popular with Sierra Leoneans, many of whom resented a Freetown elite seen as corrupt and looked forward to promised free education and health care and equitable sharing of diamond revenues. However, the RUF developed a reputation internationally for enormous cruelty during its decade-long struggle. When it was first formed, the RUF put forward the slogan, "No More Slaves, No More Masters. Power and Wealth to the People." While its goal was clearly to change the government of Sierra Leone, the RUF gave little indication of what sort of government would replace it.
The RUF is a Terrorist group of east Africa but their muscle comes from their weapons and tactics.
Tactics
Guerrilla Warfare
hit and run tacticsby small groups of irregularf orces operating in territory controlled by a hostile
Terror Warfare
This has different strategies, for the goal of the RUF is to undermine the government and tack over by committing random attacks like shootings, bombings, or kidnapping, the terrorists seek to erode the Government's credibility and influence
Weapons
Armed
Libya shipped weapons all across Africa
Bulgaria, Slovak air dropped weapons in to countries
Weapons
pre 90's tech the gun smugglers got hand-me-down weapons from all across the world
Former Soviet Union
AK-47 (1949)
RPG-7 (1961)
AK-74 (1978)
Belgain
FN FAL(1954)
Britian
L1A1 SRL(1954)
Lee-Enfield (1907)
Germany
G-3 (1959)
Mauser 98k (1935)
RUF Motivation
A young man had the letters RUF tattooed into his chest with a razor blade by the local rebel commander of the Revolutionary United Front. Credit: Corinne Dufka/Human Rights Watch
A young man had the letters RUF tattooed into his chest with a razor blade by the local rebel commander of the Revolutionary United Front. Credit: Corinne Dufka/Human Rights Watch
Word to know: Defector-a person who abandons a cause or organization usually without right <the defector demanded political asylum in exchange for information about his nation's spying operations>
The Revolutionary United Front (RUF) of Sierra Leone defied traditional patterns of guerilla movements, and in many ways defines the emerging pattern of armed struggle in Africa. Ibrahim Abdullah and Patrick Muana have observed:
-"...[RUF] is a peculiar guerilla movement without any significant national following or ethnic support..."
-"...[RUF has a] lumpen social base and its lack of an emancipatory programme to garner support from other social groups..."
-"...[RUF] has remained a bandit organization solely driven by the survialist needs of its predominantly uneducated and alienated battle front and battle group commanders."
-Diamonds have become an important resource for Sierra Leone's Revolutionary United Front (RUF) in sustaining and advancing its military ambitions.
-[The diamond] represents a major and primary source of income for the RUF, and is more than enough to sustain its military activities.
Many of the known leaders of the RUF were recruited as young adults.
Foday Sankoh
- Founder and leader of the RUF -Trained in Libya at a Guerilla camp run by Maummar Gaddafi -Returned to Sierra Leone and took part in the rebellion that brought Charles Taylor to power. -Gained a Following and formed an army by promising to fight corruption. -Captured in 2000 and was in custody for 22 months but passed away from natural causes before he was able to be tried in court.
Foday Sankoh
Sankoh's Deciples
Issa Hassan Sesay
Sesay was a senior officer and Commander in the RUF, AFRC (Armed Forces Revolutionary Council) and their joint forces called the Junta, operating within Sierra Leone from 1993 to 2003. Rebels under ther orders of Sesay, allegedly carried out armed attacks against civilian population as well as humanitarian assistance personnel and United Nations peacekeepers throughout the territory of Sierra Leone. Indicted on March 7, 2003 and was arrested 3 days later. 18 counts of war crimes, 52 years total in jail
Morris Kallon
Commander in the RUF from 1996-2003 Kallon commanded and participated in an armed campaign against civilians throughout the territory of Sierra Leone. The attacks included unlawful killings, physical and sexual violence, forced labour and enrolment to the army of abducted adults and children, looting and destruction of civilian property. Arrested March 10, 2003 Conviced of 16 war crimes and sentenced to 39 years maximum in prison
Augustine Gbao
Commander in the RUF from 1996-2003 Arrested March 10,2003 sentenced to 39 years maximum in prison.
Ishmael's encounter with the RUF in the book P.31 Looting of property P.34 Recruitment of child soldiers P.80 Abduction of girls 3 wrap-up points 1. Arrived in the wake of a broken government. 2. Rose to power built off of fear and violence. 3. Unable to accomplish goals to its entirety.
Tyler's Links ;) http://www.haguejusticeportal.net/index.php?id=8320
The Hague Justice Portal has served as a virtual gateway to information, news, and research activities in, and related to, The Hague for over a decade. It was initiated by The Hague Academic Coalition and officially launched by Her Royal Highness Princess Margriet of the Netherlands on 6 April 2006.
Site maintained by: John Pike
Page last modified: 11-07-2011 15:41:22 ZULU
John Pike, one of the world's leading experts on defense, space and intelligence policy, is Director of GlobalSecurity.org, which he founded in December 2000.
ERIC G BERMAN is an independent consultant based in Arlington, Massachusetts. He previously served in a variety of United Nations departments and authorities and has published widely on UN and African security issues.
-The Revolutionary United Front (RUF) was a rebel army that fought a failed eleven year war in Sierra Leone, starting in 1991 and ending in 2002.
-It later developed into a political party, which existed until 2007.
.
At first, the RUF was popular with Sierra Leoneans, many of whom resented a Freetown elite seen as corrupt and looked forward to promised free education and health care and equitable sharing of diamond revenues. However, the RUF developed a reputation internationally for enormous cruelty during its decade-long struggle.
When it was first formed, the RUF put forward the slogan, "No More Slaves, No More Masters. Power and Wealth to the People." While its goal was clearly to change the government of Sierra Leone, the RUF gave little indication of what sort of government would replace it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vf60Kv15zpg
-here is a video of when armed rebels ambush the Irish Rangers,
*
Weapons and Arms (Walter)
The RUF is a Terrorist group of east Africa but their muscle comes from their weapons and tactics.Tactics
Weapons
RUF Motivation
Word to know: Defector-a person who abandons a cause or organization usually without right <the defector demanded political asylum in exchange for information about his nation's spying operations>
The Revolutionary United Front (RUF) of Sierra Leone defied traditional patterns of guerilla movements, and in many ways defines the emerging pattern of armed struggle in Africa. Ibrahim Abdullah and Patrick Muana have observed:
Many of the known leaders of the RUF were recruited as young adults.
Foday Sankoh
- Founder and leader of the RUF
-Trained in Libya at a Guerilla camp run by Maummar Gaddafi
-Returned to Sierra Leone and took part in the rebellion that brought Charles Taylor to power.
-Gained a Following and formed an army by promising to fight corruption.
-Captured in 2000 and was in custody for 22 months but passed away from natural causes before he was able to be tried in court.
Sankoh's Deciples
Sesay was a senior officer and Commander in the RUF, AFRC (Armed Forces Revolutionary Council) and their joint forces called the Junta, operating within Sierra Leone from 1993 to 2003.
Rebels under ther orders of Sesay, allegedly carried out armed attacks against civilian population as well as humanitarian assistance personnel and United Nations peacekeepers throughout the territory of Sierra Leone.
Indicted on March 7, 2003 and was arrested 3 days later.
18 counts of war crimes, 52 years total in jail
Commander in the RUF from 1996-2003
Kallon commanded and participated in an armed campaign against civilians throughout the territory of Sierra Leone.
The attacks included unlawful killings, physical and sexual violence, forced labour and enrolment to the army of abducted adults and children, looting and destruction of civilian property.
Arrested March 10, 2003
Conviced of 16 war crimes and sentenced to 39 years maximum in prison
Commander in the RUF from 1996-2003
Arrested March 10,2003 sentenced to 39 years maximum in prison.
Ishmael's encounter with the RUF in the book
P.31 Looting of property
P.34 Recruitment of child soldiers
P.80 Abduction of girls
3 wrap-up points
1. Arrived in the wake of a broken government.
2. Rose to power built off of fear and violence.
3. Unable to accomplish goals to its entirety.
Tyler's Links ;)
http://www.haguejusticeportal.net/index.php?id=8320
The Hague Justice Portal has served as a virtual gateway to information, news, and research activities in, and related to, The Hague for over a decade. It was initiated by The Hague Academic Coalition and officially launched by Her Royal Highness Princess Margriet of the Netherlands on 6 April 2006.
Alexa's Links:
http://www.fas.org/irp/world/para/ruf.htm
http://flagspot.net/flags/sl%7D.html -picture of flag**
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/para/ruf.htm
Deshaun's Links:
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/para/ruf.htm
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http://www.ipsnews.net/2012/04/taylors-war-crimes-conviction-sends-powerful-message/
http://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defector
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Walter's link
http://www.iss.co.za/pubs/asr/10no1/Berman.html
ERIC G BERMAN is an independent consultant based in Arlington, Massachusetts. He previously served in a variety of United Nations departments and authorities and has published widely on UN and African security issues.